This yarn is in the lighter range of aran (size 4 in the US) at 2.23 yards per gram. It’s very hard to get the same gauge with something like Red Heart Super Saver which, although also in the aran weight range, is heavier weight and makes a stiff project when worked to the same tension. Red Heart With Love is closer but still heavier. Berroco Vintage Chunky is closer to the right weight and is classified as a heavy worsted at 2.17 yards per gram. Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted is very close at 2.20 yards per gram. It feels like the Stylecraft is a heavy worsted rather than aran, but it’s right there on the cusp. It’s not difficult to find online either. Try Wool Warehouse. I have shopped with them many times.

Gauge

After round 4, approx. 3.5″
After round 8, approx. 7″

Special Stitches

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yarn over, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Front Post Treble Crochet (fptr): Yarn over twice, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] 3 times.

Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc): Yarn over, with hook in back of work, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the front of the stitch and out the other side of the same stitch (hook is in back of work again), yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), *sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc (mark dc of third fptr with stitch marker), working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, hdc in marked dc, remove stitch marker, rep from * to last 6 dc, sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, sl st to top of beg ch-2: 56 sts.

Round 6: Ch 1, 2 bpdc around same st as joining, *fpdc around next 6 tr, 2 bpdc around next hdc, rep from * to last 6 tr, fpdc around next 6 tr, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 64 dc.

Round 7: Ch 1, 2 bpdc around first dc, bpdc around next dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, 2 bpdc around next dc, bpdc around next dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Round 8: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Round 9: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, sk ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 sts.

Round 10: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 tr, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 tr, fpdc around next 6 tr, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Rounds 11-12: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Rounds 13-24: Rep rounds 9-12.

Change to smaller hook for remainder of hat.

Rounds 25-28:: Ch 1, fpdc around first dc, *bpdc around next dc, fpdc around next dc, rep from * to last dc, bpdc around last dc, sl st to first dc. Fasten off after last round.

Puff: The Puff Stitch will be made around the post of 3 dc together. You’ll turn the work slightly. When pulling up the loops for this stitch, pull them up nice and tall (see stitch video above). You don’t want to cinch the stitches together too much. You want it spread across them. *yo, insert hook to the side of the third dc in the group, yo, pull lp through, pull the lp nice and tall, repeat from * twice more, yo, pull through 7 lps on hook.

Notes

Stitch pattern is any multiple of 8, plus 8.

These are all double crochet rows. I prefer to chain 2 instead of chain 3 at the beginning of rows. Either will work. Use the one you prefer.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), sk first dc, *dc in next 7 sts, Puff around last 3 dc made, sk 1 st, rep from * to last 5 sts, dc in last 5 sts, turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, sk first dc, dc in next 3 dc, Puff around last 3 dc made, sk 1 st, *dc in next 7 sts, Puff around last 3 dc made, sk 1 st, rep from * to last dc, dc in last dc, turn.

Rows 4-101: Rep rows 2-3. Fasten off.

Optional

Make 2 pompoms. With a 15″ strand of yarn and yarn needle, weave yarn back and forth along one short edge. Pull on the strand ends to cinch up the edge into a circle. Tighten and secure yarn. Attach 1 pompom to cinched edge. Rep for opposite side.